Thread: Enco Mics

The way that person was treating his tools was making the hair on my neck stand straight up, watch minute 3 he practically throws one micrometer. And I really disagree on not liking a digital for turning work, that is whole reason I went digital. Because if you are trying to read the vernier you have to roll it off the part. Some of those micrometers were old enough to be good ones But I agree, still interesting.

Robert

IMHO, it's a shame many things cannot be made in the USA anymore and still have room left for a bit of profit. I am still amazed that scrap can be sent from US to the other side of the world, melted, made into something else, and shipped back cheaper than just being made around the corner.

Originally Posted by lowCountryCamo

IMHO, it's a shame many things cannot be made in the USA anymore and still have room left for a bit of profit.

Oh, but they certainly can be made here at a profit.

The problem is the profit is not large enough to satisfy all the greedy people who make the decisions about where to make the products.

- Leigh

What, it's not the exorbitant cost of American labor? We cost so much that the job creators cannot survive?

Labor factors into the equation, as do all other costs of manufacture.

The decision makers run the numbers and choose the route that puts the greatest number of $$$ in their wallets.

- Leigh

At my end, labor is getting quite cheap. Matter of fact, the past couple weeks feels like a sweat shop.

I bought a set of 0-12" China mikes for home use that came with a 12" dial caliper for under $150. only because my Starrets went to 6" and the set was cheaper than several of the larger size Starrets.They are just as accurate as the Starrets. At work I have digital B&S Tesa and coolant proof Mit.'s.I work on metric & imperial machines and wouldn't use any thing else.
The shop has an old Enco China 0-12" set like mine.One day at the old plant a flexo operator came into the maintenance shop and spied the 12" set on the supervisors desk and asked the super if he could borrow the small one."Sure just bring it back as soon as you are through with it". Later the super was going through the flexo dept. and asked the operator if he returned the 1" mike.He said he wasn't done with it yet.Not seeing it in his hands he asked where it was.He replied "The bracket that holds the register eye broke so I clamped with it" The supervisor said he felt like smacking him!
I'll say one thing they are pretty tough because he used pliers on it and didn't break it!I've got and used all kinds of mikes and as long as I have good standards,the replacement parts I make are as precise as the OEM.As far as replacement parts go on cheap mikes why bother?You can buy another one for an hours worth of labor.The digitals switch ability is so convenient I hardly ever use a plain mike anymore.
Randy

Originally Posted by ratbldr427

The shop has an old Enco China 0-12" set like mine.One day at the old plant a flexo operator came into the maintenance shop and spied the 12" set on the supervisors desk and asked the super if he could borrow the small one."Sure just bring it back as soon as you are through with it". Later the super was going through the flexo dept. and asked the operator if he returned the 1" mike.He said he wasn't done with it yet.Not seeing it in his hands he asked where it was.He replied "The bracket that holds the register eye broke so I clamped with it" The supervisor said he felt like smacking him!
Randy

Smacking probably isn't allowed but I'm sure firing is. The operator doesn't belong in a machine shop.

Ww purchased a set of chinese mics before I starte where I am now, and boy those things are crap. Not only do they feel like somthing one would get with Barbie's dream house, but seem to be falling apart inside the box (cause of coarse we don't use them). When I opened the box a while ago I noticed that the ratchet handles had just fallen a few and others where just plain impossible to adjust.
Sum it up I try and never buy a metrology instrument with out first having one in my mits to evaluate or a brand name. Otherwise you run the risk of hqaving a set of different sized horse shoes for the next Co. picinic, more points for a ringer with the 1-2 and 2-3 sizes.
On the flip side if your requirements for accuracy are fitting of that caliber of instrument then I guess it an okay purchase. I also must confess I am a bonifide tool junkie, I save buy the best quality, after all I'm going have them till I die, so get the best that you feel you need and never look back.

Originally Posted by doug8cat

Ww purchased a set of chinese mics before I starte where I am now, and boy those things are crap. Not only do they feel like somthing one would get with Barbie's dream house, but seem to be falling apart inside the box (cause of coarse we don't use them). When I opened the box a while ago I noticed that the ratchet handles had just fallen a few and others where just plain impossible to adjust.
Sum it up I try and never buy a metrology instrument with out first having one in my mits to evaluate or a brand name. Otherwise you run the risk of hqaving a set of different sized horse shoes for the next Co. picinic, more points for a ringer with the 1-2 and 2-3 sizes.
On the flip side if your requirements for accuracy are fitting of that caliber of instrument then I guess it an okay purchase. I also must confess I am a bonifide tool junkie, I save buy the best quality, after all I'm going have them till I die, so get the best that you feel you need and never look back.

It could be the fact that the reason they were crap was because the cheapest available was bought. Crap doesn't have much to do with where something is made.

OT. Your aka doug8cat - should it be read as doug ate cat?

Gordon

So did anyone really answer this guys question? before everyone started story time!


Don't hate me I'm just asking.

Originally Posted by racen857

So did anyone really answer this guys question? before everyone started story time!

Don't hate me I'm just asking.

Who's "this guy" and what was the question?

If it is the OP you're referring to then i don't think he's being conned

Back about a decade ago, one of my co-workers gave me a zero-to-three-inch set of Harbor Freight's "Central Tool" brand micrometers as a joke. Those micrometers looked pretty good, but their action was VERY rough and, when closed on an object to be measured, had a very spongy feel.

I hoped to "turn the joke around" by actually using those micrometers, so I spent a few lunch hours trying to identify and patch their shortcomings. After a thorough cleaning with spray-can brake cleaner, a close examination of the micrometer threads showed that 1) the internal threads were ragged, and the collet-slots severely burred, and 2) the male threads were damaged at their Major Diameters, probably from rough handling after grinding. So I ground a single-tooth scraper to clean up the internal threads, and used a triangular needle file to debur the collet slots.

Then I chucked the micrometer spindles in a drill press and used a coarse diamond-grit external lap to grind away the damaged crests of the male threads.

Next, I applied a moly paste to both the male and female threads, reassembled the micrometers -- tightening the collet-closer nuts until the spindles were almost-but-not-quite locked, and ran the spindles in-and-out a dozen or so full-length cycles. After that was done, I again disassembled the micrometers and re-cleaned with brake cleaner, lubed 'em with Lubriplate 105, and put 'em back together.

All three of these Harbor Freight micrometers started as frogs, but turned into princesses with nice smooth actions that stop crisply. They approach Mitutoyo smoothness very nearly, and are a fair bit smoother than any of my US-made micrometers (from Starrett, B&S, MG, and Millers Falls).

And, in case you're wondering, my employer's cal lab reported that all three had measuring-screw lead errors of less than 50 microinches per inch.

Originally Posted by John Garner

All three of these Harbor Freight micrometers started as frogs, but turned into princesses with nice smooth actions that stop crisply.

Ugly ducklings to swans might have been a better example

Point taken Gordon, your quite right it's just that some places have become associated with producing lower class metrology equipment.
As to doug8cat it refers to the number of cats I lived with when I joined the forum, so I am now doug9cat now. They are really my wifes but I have my three favorites. They are all rescues most with some major medical problems. I worked as a veterinary critical care nurse for 22+ years before maching and she still does vet work (45 years between us). Merlin and Pidgon my two greatest fans start crying and pacing around 5:30 when I usally get home. I could go on but this is a metrology forum and I don't often use them to measure things. Merlin can read a mic but has trouble, he claims it is because he doesn't have thumbs. But honestly they are great to come home to especially after a bad day.

Originally Posted by John Garner

Back about a decade ago, one of my co-workers gave me a zero-to-three-inch set of Harbor Freight's "Central Tool" brand micrometers as a joke.

Must have been suffering a touch of brane faid when I wrote that. Harbor Freight's house brand micrometers were badged "Cen-Tech".